Alleged teen explosives, 3D gun producer nabbed over drug possession

September 27, 2018 (Mainichi Japan)

This undated photo shows a scene from a YouTube video showing how to manufacture triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP, which has been used in a number of Islamic State-linked terror attacks including those in Paris in 2015 and in Brussels in 2016. (Kyodo)

NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- A 19-year-old Nagoya university student who has been arrested for alleged production of explosives and a 3D printed gun was served a fresh arrest warrant Thursday over stimulant drug possession, police said.

The male student has told investigators that he produced the stimulants himself and the police seized chemicals he is believed to have used to make the drug. His name is being withheld because he is a minor.

The police believe he synthesized about 0.6 gram of the stimulants found at his home on Aug. 20 out of curiosity about chemistry rather than for his own use -- the same motive they suspect for his alleged production of the explosives and the resin gun.

In August, the student was arrested on suspicion of producing triacetone triperoxide, known as TATP, which has been used in a number of Islamic State-linked terror attacks including in Paris in 2015 and in Brussels in 2016, and penthrite, an even more powerful explosive than TATP.

Investigators have said the suspect told them he obtained materials to make explosives in 2016 at a high school he attended at that time. He was a member of a chemistry club.

Experts say those bomb ingredients are easily accessible and the method to manufacture explosives is available online, but the synthesized substance is unstable and extremely dangerous as it could detonate even with small impact.

He was also served a fresh arrest warrant on Sept. 7 for alleged possession of a gun he is believed to have made with a 3D printer. The student admitted to producing the weapon, but denied any intention to use it for a crime, according to investigators.